Farewell to Jack White, inspiration to the Sculpture by the Sea community

Posted: March 22, 2015 / News

We have received the very sad news that one of the young members of the Sculpture by the Sea community has passed away. Jack White lived with mitochondrial disease and was not able to sit, stand, walk or talk without full support or assistance. But Jack had a wonderful creative spirit which inspired many of those around him.

Many will remember Vaughan Bisschop’s sculpture ‘Transparent Sea’, which featured a translucent image of a whale shark in glass, that was exhibited in Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2013.  This much loved sculpture was also one of Jack’s favorites.  Jack wrote this lovely poem in response to the sculpture.

I’m not dead,
I feel. I love affection.
Peaceful, I can know.
I can not talk.
I can not go.
Imagine I go to my park, beach, sand.
 
I see.
I swim.
I, you, float, whale shark.
 
Finish watching.
I need to swim.

‘Whale Shark’ by Jack White, aged 8.

This poem is featured on a plaque next to ‘Transparent Sea’ at the Western Australian Maritime Museum, to which the sculpture was donated by Nicola & Andrew Forrest.

Jack’s mother, Charmaine, in an open blog to friends wrote:

“My little hero, broken beyond repair, showed me how to live in the moment and die with courage.”

Rest in peace Jack.

 

 

Vaughan Bisschop, transparent sea, Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2013. Photo Jarrad Seng.


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